The federal budget process involves the preparation of separate reports and requests that relate to each other in varying degrees .
For NCI , the first step is to prepare and submit the NCI Professional Judgment Budget Proposal ( formerly called the Annual Plan and Budget Proposal ) directly to the President and Congress for review . The Professional Judgment Budget Proposal is unique to NCI , and this process is required by the National Cancer Act of 1971 . The Professional Judgment Budget Proposal identifies NCI ’ s research priorities and provides a high-level overview of optimum funding needed to advance cancer research . It ’ s typically published over a year in advance of the fiscal year it outlines .
The White House ’ s Office of Management and Budget prepares the President ’ s Budget Proposal in coordination with all federal agencies . This annual document requests funding levels for the federal government for the upcoming fiscal year according to the President ’ s priorities . The President submits the budget request for Congress to consider when passing appropriations legislation to fund federal agencies .
NCI also prepares the Congressional Justification , in coordination with NIH , the Department of Health and Human Services , and the Office of Management and Budget . The Congressional Justification provides a detailed budget request that is incorporated into the President ’ s Budget Proposal . It outlines NCI ’ s mission , goals , and objectives for the coming fiscal year and provides comparative data and analysis for the previous , current , and proposed budgets .
If an appropriations bill is not passed by the start of the fiscal year ( October 1 ), Congress may enact a continuing resolution , which provides federal agencies with limited , short-term funding , typically at the pre-existing appropriations level . Congress may pass multiple continuing resolutions until an agreement is reached on a final budget for the full fiscal year . If a budget agreement is not reached and no continuing resolution is passed , the government faces a shutdown .